(12-09-2018, 09:37)talkSAFT Wrote: Hope the friendly-ish banter continues for Friday night, though I wouldn't fancy the walk up Deritend/Digbeth if we win.

(12-09-2018, 13:51)Ska\dForLife-WBA Wrote:

(12-09-2018, 09:37)talkSAFT Wrote: Hope the friendly-ish banter continues for Friday night, though I wouldn't fancy the walk up Deritend/Digbeth if we win.

I seem to recall that the pictured match above (circa February 1992) resulted in a rather "eventful" journey back to the city centre after a 3-0 Albion victory.

(13-09-2018, 18:06)WBA-Josh Wrote: I think we’ve got enough quality to beat Blues tomorrow night. I expect Big Dave to play the same team as last time with our attack looking very sharp.

My only worry is our shape defensively. Blues play 442 with 2 wingers and because we play with Phillips and Gibbs as wing-backs, Blues can do what Boro did and look to exploit the space in behind them. That can drag our three centre backs out of shape and make us disjointed at the back. To combat that I’d like to use play more of a fluid shape. The usual 3412 shape in possession but with Barnes more to left of centre and Livermore higher up than usual to the right of centre almost making it a 3142 in possession. That way out of possession, we can shift to a back four with another four in front. Gibbs drops to left back and Dawson, Hegazi and Bartley shuffle across to the right to create your typical back four (Dawson covering right back). In front is Phillips on the right, Livermore and Brunt in the middle and Barnes moves to left of the four. Finally Rodriguez drops into the 10 to cover in front of Livermore and Brunt leaving Gayle on his own.